In the year 1809, the Glasgow Water Company proposed to derive their supply from a well and tunnel formed in a stratum of sand on the left bank of the Clyde, which affords a natural filter for the water of the river. As the city lies on the right bank, it was necessary to convey the filtered water across the river, which was a problem of consider able difficulty. Mr. Watt, who was consulted on the occ,sion, suggested that a flexible water main should be drawn across the bed of the river, through which pumping engines on the north side should receive the water from the well on the south side. The work was completed in 1810, and a second main was afterwards laid in every respect similar to the first. The idea of the flexible or ball and socket joints, was suggested to him, as he himself informed the editor of this work, from a considera tion of the flexibility of the lobster's tail.
In the latter part of Mr. Watt's life, his attention was directed to the construction of a machine for copying and reducing all kinds of sculpture and statuary. Having so often experienced the evils of communicating his ideas to others, he had kept secret the details of his plan, and even his intention of executing such a machine. \Vhen he had made considerable progress in its execution, and had thought of securing it by patent, he learned that a person in his neighbourhood was occupied with the same object, and we have heard Mr. Watt say that he believed that this gentleman was entirely ignorant of his labours. A proposal was then made to prosecute the subject jointly, and to secure the privilege by a joint patent, but Mr. Watt saw many objections to such a plan, and was unwill ing at his advanced period of life to embark in new projects which required for the prosecution all the ardour of youth. We have seen at Heath field some of the works executed by this machine, and these prove beyond a doubt the entire practi cability of the plan.
Mr. Watt had withdrawn from business in the year 1800, when he resigned his shares to his sons, the present Mr. James Watt, and Mr. Gregory Watt, who was prematurely carried off' in the prime of his life, when he had began to exhibit proofs of talents, which might have rivalled those of his father.
In the year 1813, when Dr. Brewster was engaged in editing works of the late Dr. Robison, he had the good fortune to prevail upon Mr Watt to undertake the revision of the treatise on the steam engine, but though he intended only to correct im perfections and supply defects, yet he was gradually led to extend his views, and to compose those valuable additions on the history, the principles, and the construction of the steam-engine, which are published in the 2d volume of Dr. Robison's System of Mechanical Philosophy. In a prelimi nary letter addressed to Dr. Brewster. and dated May 1814, Mr. Watt has corrected many misap prehensions which had universally prevailed re specting the early history of his labours.
During the greater part of his life, Mr Watt had been in an infirm state of health. His constitutional debility was greatly increased by the cares and anxieties which necessarily attended the labours of his mind and the litigations in which he was involved. Sick headaches, of great severity, and arising from an organic defect in his digestive powers, had often embittered his existence; but by good management and great abstemiousness, they diminished as he advanced in life, and, without any diminution of his mental powers, he reached the 84th year of his age, when after a short illness he expired without suffering, in the midst of his family, at Heathfield, on the 25th August 1819.
His mortal remains were interred in the chancel or the parish church of Handsworth, near those of his friend Mr. Boulton. An excellent bust of Mr. Watt was executed by Mr. Chantrey some years before his death, and a full length statue has been completed by the same artist, at the desire of his son the present Mr Watt, to be placed upon his tomb.
Mr Watt was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 1784. Ile was admitted into the Royal Society of London in 1785, and in 1787 he became a corresponding member of the Batavian Society. The university of Glasgow created him Doctor of Laws in 1806, and in 1808 he was elected a corresponding member, and after wards an associate of the Institute of France.
The character of Mr Watt as a mechanician and engineer, does not require to be drawn. It is im pressed upon the great inventions which he has bequeathed to his country and to mankind. His knowledge, however, was not confined to those sub jects which were connected with his professional pursuits. He was profoundly versed in chemistry and various branches of physical science. Ile was well acquainted, too, with modern languages and literature, and he was deeply read in metaphysics, medicine, etymology and law. These rare ac quirements he owed to a powerful memory, which enabled him to retain every thing useful that he had read, but which also rejected any thing that was trivial or insignificant. In his personal character, Mr Watt exhibited the most amiable qualities. In the various relations of a husband, a father, and a friend, the kindness of his nature was strikingly displayed. In society he was modest and reserved, though always ready to take his share in the con versation, whether it was trivial or profound. A short time after his death, the character of Mr. Watt was drawn with much eloquence and feeling, by his friend Mr. Jeffrey, and published in the papers and journals of the day. No extended ac count of Mr. Watt's life has yet appeared; but we have been long expecting a complete memoir of his life, writings and inventions, from the pen of his son.